Tax issues, local options dominate Nov. 8 general election ballots in Marion County
Twelve local issues have been approved to appear on Marion County ballots for the Nov. 8 general election. However, none of them are countywide issues, according to the Marion County Board of Elections.
Only one of the five elections for countywide offices is contested. That race for a seat on the Marion County Board of Commissioners features Republican Mark Davis against Democrat Kathy Masters.
Marion County Auditor Joan Kasotis, County Coroner Gary Burton, Common Pleas Court Judge Matthew P. Frericks, and Family Court Judge Larry N. Heiser are all running without opposition.
Fire departments seek support for levies
City of Marion voters will decide on a 2.75-mills continuing levy that will benefit the city’s fire department. If approved by voters, the property tax would commence in 2023 and first come due in 2024. According to information provided by the Marion County Auditor's Office, the levy will generate $1,076,982.97 annually for the fire department. For the owner of a home valued at $100,000, the levy would cost $96.25 per year.
Officials from the Marion Fire Department plan to use the money generated by the levy to build a new main fire station to replace the 110-year-old facility currently located at 186 S. Prospect St. and conduct needed improvements to the departments other two stations on Bellefontaine Avenue and Jefferson Street. They also want to establish a regular replacement schedule for all department vehicles.
The First Consolidated Fire District is seeking voter support for renewal of its 4-mill, 5-year tax levy. If approved, the property tax would commence in 2022 and first be due in 2023. Officials said renewal of the levy is necessary in order for the district to continue to maintain current services, firefighting and rescue equipment, emergency vehicles, and staffing.
The First Consolidated Fire District’s service area includes the Village of Caledonia as well as Claridon, Scott, and Tully townships in Marion County and Canaan Township in Morrow County. Renewal of the levy would mean no new taxes for district residents, officials said.
Big Island Township voters are being asked to support renewal of a property tax levy that would fund New Vision Fire and Rescue and the Morral-Salt Rock Township Fire Department. If approved by voters, the 2-mill, 5-year tax levy would commence in 2023 and would first come due in 2024.
River Valley Local Schools renewal levy
Residents of the River Valley Local School District are being asked to support renewal of a 5-year property tax levy to fund continued programming and day-to-day operations.
The renewal of the 2.6 mill property tax levy would not increase taxes for the community. Currently, the levy represents 4% of the district's budget, bringing in $854,281 to the district annually, according to River Valley Treasurer Brittany Keller.
River Valley is the only district in Marion County with a levy on the ballot this fall. Elgin, Marion City, Ridgedale, and Tri-Rivers all passed renewal levies in 2021.
Originally passed in 1997, the levy is due for its 5-year renewal. The current term was renewed by district voters in 2017.
Village and township levies
The villages of Caledonia, Prospect, and Waldo are each seeking renewals of property tax levies to fund current expenses for the respective municipalities.
Caledonia village government is seeking renewal of a 3-mills, 5-year property tax levy. If approved by voters, the levy would commence in 2023 and would first come due in 2024.
Prospect village government is seeking renewal of its 3.9-mills, 5-year property tax levy. If approved by voters, the levy would commence in 2023 and would first come due in 2024.
Waldo village government is seeking renewal of its 2-mills, 5-year property tax levy. If approved by voters, the levy would commence in 2023 and would first come due in 2024.
Voters in Salt Rock Township are being asked to support a replacement tax levy in the Nov. 8 general election. Funds from the 3-mills, 5-year tax levy would be used to pay for current expenses if approved by voters. The levy would commence in 2023 and would first come due in 2024 if voters back it.
Cardington-Lincoln Library levy
The Cardington-Lincoln Public Library has placed a property tax levy on the ballot. The additional 1-mill, 5-year levy would commence in 2022 and would first come due in 2023 if approved by voters. Funding from the levy would cover current expenses for the library. In Marion County, residents of Richland Township A precinct are voting on this levy.
Local options
Three businesses are asking voters to support their efforts to pass local options for the sale of alcohol on Sundays.
TJ’s Tobacco, 118 Jefferson St. in Marion, is seeking support for its local option that would allow for the Sunday sale of wine and mixed beverages and off-premises sales. Residents of Marion precinct 5-A will vote on this issue.
M City Imbibe doing business as Shovel City Drinkery, 179-181 N. Main St. in Marion, is asking voters to support its local option that would allow for the Sunday sale of beer, wine, all mixed beverages, and spiritous liquor as well as on- and off-premises sales. Residents of Marion precinct 5-C will vote on this issue.
Country Folks Services LLC doing business as Raceway Mini Mart, 9039 W. LaRue-Prospect Road in LaRue, is seeking voter support for its local option that would allow for Sunday sale of beer, wine, and mixed beverages and off-premises sales. Residents of Montgomery Township will vote on this issue.
Early voting continues through Nov. 7
Early voting in Ohio continues through Monday, Nov. 7. Marion County residents can vote in person at the Board of Elections office, located inside the Marion County Building, 222 W. Center St. in Marion.
Following is the schedule for the rest of the early, in-person voting period:
Oct. 27-28 – 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Oct. 29 – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oct. 31-Nov. 4 – 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Nov. 5 – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Nov. 6 – 1 to 5 p.m.
Nov. 7 – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Absentee ballots can be downloaded from the Marion County Board of Elections website or can be obtained at the board office in the Marion County Building. All absentee ballots must be returned to the board office by 7:30 p.m. on election day or be postmarked by Nov. 7.
For details about absentee voting in Marion County, go to the board of elections website at www.boe.ohio.gov/marion and click on the "Absentee Information" tab at the top of the page.
Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Tax issues, local options dominate election ballots in Marion County
